On July 27, 2022, Sonia Loja, 36, strangled her three children — Junior Panjon (12), Joselyn Panjon (10), and Jonael Panjon (5) — at their home on Whaley Street in Danbury, Connecticut, before hanging herself in a shed in the backyard. The children were found with cords around their necks. The children's father, Pedro Panjon, had left for his landscaping job early that morning. When he was unable to reach his wife by phone, he requested a wellness check and returned home, where he discovered the children's bodies before police arrived. He collapsed and called 911. Loja had been running an illegal daycare out of the home and had been cited for it approximately one month before the killings, receiving a 'Demand to Cease' letter. On the day of the murders, she told the parents of the roughly 10 daycare children not to bring them, suggesting the act was premeditated.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The news article states: "preliminary findings indicate that Ms. Loja strangled her three children before killing herself." The CT family violence report confirms the weapons used were "Rope" and "Hands/Fist/Feet" for all three Danbury incidents (entries 9, 10, 11). The report further states: "the husband arrived at the home before police, went inside and found the bodies of the victims with cords around their necks."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
The news article headline explicitly states this was a "murder-suicide." The CT family violence report marks the Danbury 07/27/22 incidents (entries 9, 10, 11) with an asterisk denoting "Murder-Suicide" and lists "Suspect Suicide: Female, 36." The report also notes: "The suspect strangled her three children before she hanged herself inside a shed in the backyard of her home."
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article identifies Sonia Loja as the biological mother of the three children and states: "preliminary findings indicate that Ms. Loja strangled her three children before killing herself." The CT family violence report lists the offender as a 36-year-old female with the victims' relationship listed as "Other relative residing in home: Son" and "Daughter," confirming a parent-child relationship.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the sources that are not addressed by other questions. First, the CT family violence report states: "The suspect ran an illegal daycare out of her house and told the parents of roughly 10 kids that she couldn't watch them the day of the incident," which strongly suggests premeditation. Second, the report notes: "The suspect was cited a month before the murder-suicide for operating the illegal day-care and had recently received a 'Demand to Cease' letter," indicating recent regulatory pressure that may have been a stressor. Third, this is a multi-victim case involving three child siblings (ages 5, 10, and 12) killed in the same incident; both provided documents cover all three victims collectively. Fourth, the husband found "the bodies of the victims with cords around their necks," providing detail about the method beyond strangulation alone.
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